T-Diaries: Fariha Pervez

A glimpse into the world of Pakistani powerhouses

What sparked your interest in the music industry?

I always had an interest in music since the very beginning. My family, especially my father, was very supportive. My father wanted to become a singer himself but his family opposed it so in a way, he fulfilled his wish through me.

What is the most important thing you keep in mind before recording a song?

When I am recording a song, I just concentrate on my vocals and fulfill the requirements of the melody. That’s all there is to it. Having anything else on my mind will make it difficult to sing. I just leave the outside world outside when I entre the studio.

How has the Pakistani music industry changed over the past years?

It has changed a lot and most of the changes are actually very good. Experiments with new types of sound have turned out to be very successful. Coke Studio and Nescafe Basement are very good examples of that. Also, we now have many more channels on both TV and radio to play our music. However, there are some negative changes as well that need to be taken care of for the betterment of the industry.

If awards were for sale, how much would you pay for them?

I wouldn’t pay a dime! Every artist strives for the true appreciation which comes from the heart of the fans, admirers and listeners. At the end of the day, that is what matters and no trophy can take its place.

You had a steady acting career before music. What prompted you to shift careers?

Music and singing was and still is my passion from day one. I started with acting because of being related to the famous Rehana and Talat Siddiqui. They are my aunts and Arifa and Naheed Siddiqui are my cousins. I guess directors and producers thought that I would also be a good actress like them but I found acting to be quite difficult. My concentration is more on singing rather than acting.

You also sang songs for the film industry of Pakistan. In which way are film songs different from personal albums?

Singing for films was a memorable experience. It’s different in the sense that we have to sing according to the situation on the scene and put more emotions in it. Singing for films has a bit of acting in it as well.

What do you think about the new talent coming in these days?

I think they have a lot of potential! I have seen some of them perform live and I was quite impressed. Their talent should be utilised properly because each and every one of them have skills in different genres. What they need is a proper platform and some sort of a talent manager who knows where to use them.

What is the hardest part about working in the industry?

There are a lot of issues and I am sure every other musician will agree on these points. One of the major issues is piracy. Albums sales are close to zero and so, there haven’t been that many album releases in the past. Record companies are disappearing. I myself have been releasing my music online, as singles. We have a lot more channels now but only a selected few for music and most of them play non-Pakistani music. It’s quite disheartening to see younger talent trying to get exposure but failing.

Do you think that today’s fans and critics expects too much from an artist?

That depends on the situation at hand. Sometimes the public and critics have liked your work so much that they want something better from you every time. But criticism for the sake of criticism never does anyone any good.

Any advice to young women aspiring to become singers?

There is no shortcut to success. It’s all about sheer hard work, following your passion and never giving up in the end. You should also be true to yourselves and satisfied of the things you do in life. Maintaining peace in your heart and mind will bring more feelings into your music.

Fariha Pervez

Singer and actor 

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, January 4^th, 2015.